1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s
1970s
The McKinney ISD Athletics Department inducted the Hall of Honor Class of 2024. Jerry Crumpton ’72 spent more than 40 years as an educator and a coach. His demeanor and ability allowed him to coach a variety of sports, including baseball, football, and golf. He was the offensive coordinator for Ron Poe on the Lions’ 1979 state football title team and led the 1981 McKinney High School baseball team to the 4A state tournament. His 1997 MHS golf team finished runner-up at state, and he was named state golf coach of the year in 2014 while at McKinney Boyd. (Jerry Crumpton’s grandson Jaxon Wiggins (left) and wife Lynda Crumpton (center) accepted Crumpton’s Hall of Honor ring on his behalf from MISD Director of Athletics Jennifer Frazier.)
1980s
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed David Osborn ’83, president and CEO of WestStar Bank, to the Finance Commission of Texas. The commission oversees the state’s banking, savings, and loan, and consumer credit agencies. Osborn’s term will run until Feb. 1, 2030. He serves on many boards, including as chairman of the Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare board of directors and first vice chairman of The Borderplex Alliance. He is the past chairman of the Texas Bankers Association and a member of the McMurry University Board of Trustees and the Texas Tech University Banking Program Advisory Council. Osborn earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from McMurry University and is a graduate of the SW Graduate School of Banking at SMU Cox School of Business. WestStar is a locally owned community bank with more than $3 billion in assets.
Max Burkhead ’84 has finished his eighth year in the classroom, teaching 8th-grade math. When he’s not in the classroom, he’s taking on interim preaching assignments, filling pulpits regularly, and involved with Texas Real Estate Executives as an agent helping people find or sell their homes, farms, and ranches. Max is a new member of McMurry’s Alumni Board of Directors! He wants to encourage alumni to be more involved in McMurry alumni events and activities.
The book “DIY PR: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Noticed by the Media” by Brittany Bearden and Jeff Bearden ’86 serves as a comprehensive resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking to understand and implement effective public relations strategies. Drawing from their extensive experience in the field, the authors provide practical advice on writing press releases, connecting with media outlets, building an online presence, and leveraging public appearances to enhance brand visibility. With a focus on affordable and accessible PR tactics, the book aims to empower readers to effectively promote their products or services and establish a strong brand presence in today’s competitive marketplace. Through their agency, At Large PR, the Beardens have successfully applied these strategies for a diverse range of clients, garnering media coverage in prominent outlets such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, USA Today, Forbes, and Entrepreneur.
1990s
Jason Baxter ’99 joined Grafted Ving CPA, LLC. in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a certified public accountant in April.
Danielle Lammi ’99 became an admissions representative at South University in Savannah, Georgia, in March.
Shaun Martin ’99 has been promoted to Coordinating Manager of Public Affairs for Atmos Energy. In addition to his continuing service of the Abilene, Sweetwater, and Stamford districts and the surrounding region, he will be supporting Public Affairs in additional service centers/regions in Fort Worth, San Angelo, Brownwood, Stephenville, Eastland, Waco, Round Rock, and Bryan-College Station. He also recently served as a panelist alongside the Abilene City Manager and the Development Corporation of Abilene President/CEO at the West Texas Young Professionals Summit hosted by the Abilene Young Professionals.
2000s
Kiki Brabham ’00 is the head girls’ varsity basketball coach at San Jacinto Christian Academy in Amarillo. She just led the team to the Final Four in the state for the second year in a row!
Sarah Thornton ’02 became general manager of Fife & Farro restaurant in Austin, Texas.
ANAK KO, a nonprofit organization based in Rio Hondo, Texas, sells various products to fund its mission of supporting grieving individuals and families. They offer rosaries as tax-deductible donations to assist bereaved families with memorial expenses, CARE packages, and Marigold Scholarships. Additionally, ANAK KO publishes grief guides authored by Dr. Elaine Dispo-Rendon ’03, the organization’s founder, who draws from her personal grief experiences and research. Proceeds from these guides, along with cookbooks co-authored by Dr. Dispo-Rendón and her husband, David Rendón, support ANAK KO’s grief services. The organization also offers support videos, rainbow wristbands, and rosaries crafted by cosmetologist Nancy Lambert, whose work is purchased by donors globally. ANAK KO provides support to families worldwide who have lost loved ones, including pets, to various health-related causes. Dr. Dispo-Rendón, a certified grief counselor, offers confidential virtual sessions and workshops at conferences and has designed specialized grief programs. The organization’s spiritual guide is Bishop Michael Pfeifer, who recently awarded a Marigold Scholarship to a student pursuing a career in school psychology.
The Rev. Dr. Sara Taylor Lattimore ’05 has graduated with her Doctorate of Leadership in Global Perspectives from George Fox University on May 2, 2024. Sara’s research is on the use of play in leadership development to increase risk-taking among experienced leaders who are facing burnout or leadership trauma. From her research, Sara is launching a leadership development and retreat organization while also serving full-time as the Montana West District- Congregational Resource Minister in the Mountain Sky Conference of the UMC and serving a 2-point charge as pastor of Three Forks and Willow Creek UMCs.
Patrick Messersmith, SHRM-CP ’05, was promoted to director of learning and development at Sparrow Partners in Abilene, Texas.
Brandy Cephas ’08 is now a finance manager at IBM.
Robert West ’10 has welcomed a new addition to his family, Frankie Mae, born March 7, 2024.
2010s
Leah Vanderpol-Balleza ’14 and Jacob Balleza ’12 had a beautiful baby girl on August 31, 2023. Rosalyn Sofia Grace was born after many years of prayer, a gift from the Lord!
Deen Coleman ’12 is now a real estate agent at Realty ONE Group Optima in Houston, Texas.
Chanel Felder ’14 became the director of operations for the W League at the United Soccer League (USL) in Tampa, Florida.
Samantha Eppler ’14 has just been appointed the vice president of development and communications for Community Partners of Dallas.
Timothy Cline ’19 recently started a new job at Sammons Financial Group Companies as a life customer contact specialist.
2020s
Jordan Gregory ’20 was named director of residence life & housing for McMurry University after serving as interim for the past year.
Frances Narvaez ’20 recently became a utility coordinator at HDR, an employee-owned design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services.
Sarah Stephenson ’20 has been promoted to post-secondary transition advisor at KIPP Texas Public Schools in Austin, Texas.
Colby Diggs ’21 joined Rockstar Technology as a digital marketing consultant in March.
Kelly Turner ’21 is now regional director of sales & strategic consulting at Financial Projects in Dallas, where she helps companies confront challenges arising at any stage of the business life cycle.
Rachel Brandon-Hopper ’22 has accepted a position as a Student Success Coach at North Central Texas College in Gainesville. This is fitting since she recently graduated with her Master of Education in Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education with a certificate in Academic Advising.
Jessie Ramirez ’24 and Tyce Alexander ’23 met as students at McMurry and have just gotten engaged!
Austin Sexton ’23 was promoted to operations manager at Premier Trailer Leasing, a leading trailer leasing and rental company in the U.S., specializing in long-term leasing and short-term rental services for a wide range of semitrailers, including over-the-road vans, flatbeds, refrigerated equipment, and chassis.